Surgical biopsy of non-palpable mammary lesions. Technique and results.

In a randomized controlled trial with mammographic screening for early detection of breast cancer, 314 non-palpable breast lesions were examined by open biopsy between 1978 and 1983. These biopsies were performed after the lesions had been indicated by the hooked wire technique. In 185 cases the findings turned out to be benign while 129 proved to be malignant. Satisfactory initial biopsies were achieved in 95% of the cases. A model for the management of mammary lesions found in such a screening programme is described and some difficulties are discussed.